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posted 04/16/01, revised 04/20/01
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| Ron
Wolf | Mike
Sherman |
Ron Wolf has called it his "last rodeo"...
Translation: As executive vice president, he will be presiding over a Green Bay Packers draft for the final time during this weekend's 66th annual NFL player selection meeting (Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22).
It obviously will be a historic occasion - essentially closing out an uncommonly prosperous on-field decade for the Green and Gold under Wolf's aggressive leadership and well-documented expertise, which saw him transform the Packers from perennial also-rans into the standard for pro football success (the NFL's best won-lost record since the 1993 institution of free agency, 83-45, a club record six consecutive playoff seasons and 101 total victories in 9 years having been compiled on his watch).
From his perspective, however, it has largely been business as usual to date, with preparations for the 2001 draft virtually identical to those in each of his nine previous years in that role for the Packers.
"There isn't anything changed," Wolf said during his last annual pre-draft press conference, adding by way of emphasis, "The process has been the same...is the same...will remain the same."
With one notable exception.
"The basic difference," he said, "is Mike Sherman's spent a lot of time in there (the draft room) with us. We're trying to show him how we do things, which will enable him to carry the torch, so to speak."
Sherman's increased involvement in the draft came about when Wolf announced in January his impending retirement as executive vice president and general manager, to become official June 1, at which time Sherman will fully assume all of the responsibilities Wolf has had as executive vice president/general manager in addition to continuing to serve as head coach.
Wolf, in commenting on the transitional process, said of Sherman, "He learns by watching. He feels that's the best way of doing that - and I don't disagree with that."
Whatever the case, they presumably will be jointly making the Packers' first selection some time between 1 o'clock and 1:30 Saturday afternoon, based on an 11 a.m. (CDT) start for the draft and a 15-minute time limit per selection in the initial round.
From the personal and emotional standpoint, Wolf assured that he thus far has had no time to become sentimental about his imminent last hurrah.
"Absolutely not," he responded in addressing the inevitable question. "I haven't had time to really think about that. Our days are filled with the same thing we've been doing for 39 years. So I haven't had time to sit around and wonder what it's going to be like after the draft, whenever that is. And that's going to happen. I assume I'll become sentimental about that after that's over with...I'm sure I will."
Eventually, the media questions turned to the task at hand. "What," Wolf was asked, "do you need out of this draft?"
"Two quality players," he replied with characteristic brevity and promptitude. "We need to get two quality players - I'm talking about real quality. We need to hit the first one (with the tenth pick in the first round, as things now stand). And, with one of those four other picks (the Packers have five choices among the first 82 picks), we've got to get somebody that is a real football player - a genuine starting football player."
What, in this pursuit, might be the chances of moving up in the first round?
"I read that - I read that we are," Wolf said. "And I read that I am...But we're not right now.
"The way that I view that is we have five chances in 82 picks (in the first three rounds) to really improve the overall quality and depth of our football team. And, right now, as I'm looking at it, it would be kind of foolish to throw a couple of those away just to move up seven spots.''
"However, I may get in the room with everybody and they may convince me to go the other way. So that could happen. But, right now, it doesn't make much sense to me."
Wolf acknowledged that, on the basis of need, a defensive lineman should be the Packers' first-round selection. He was quick to append, however, "That doesn't mean if we stay at 10 that we wouldn't go for a receiver if a receiver would drop to us."
Having said that, he added, "One of the things that I really regret here, most of the time that I've been here I've never really handed Brett Favre something to go with. And I well realize that championships are won on defense. But I wish now, looking back in hindsight and retrospect, I'd been able to give him just one guy - or one more guy - than rely on him."
How important, Wolf was asked, is it "to find a pass-rusher other teams will pay attention to?"
"I think it's very important," he replied. "And, hopefully, we'll be able to do that where we are. If not, we'll consider moving forward. This is what we're trying to concentrate on - go get somebody like that."
How strong, overall, is the draft?
"I think it's a very strong draft as a whole," Wolf affirmed, without hesitation. "Particularly, it's going to be a great first day."
Asked if he would be taking a quarterback along the way, he promptly rejoined, "We certainly are...Yes, we are. We blew that last year and, as a team, we still haven't recovered from that. That may sound foolish, but we haven't. Everybody in the room at that time - although it was new group - learned a valuable lesson. And you'll see the Packers probably - even after I go - will every year draft a quarterback...You have to."
Looking back, what has perennially intrigued him about the draft - and his profession - over his 39-year career?
"It gives you an opportunity to more or less put yourself against all of the other experts in the league and see what you come up with. It's what I grew up doing and, in the league, it's what I enjoy doing," he said. "That's probably why I enjoy this aspect of it - or any personnel aspect of this game. I'm fascinated by that...and all the parts that go with that.
"It's unfortunate that, in today's football, you can no longer do this. And that's one reason why I'm getting out of it."
What does he consider to have been the best of the nine drafts he has conducted for the Packers?
"Probably the first one (in 1992)...was the best one. (It included Terrell Buckley, Robert Brooks, Edgar Bennett, Mark Chmura, Ty Detmer and Mark D'Onofrio, whose highly-promising career was cut short by injury).
"Had we known what we were getting into," Wolf continued, "we'd have been a lot better. I think one of the great things about the draft is that you learn more from your mistakes than you do from your successes."
Asked what he hopes he has passed on to those he has been working with in Packers personnel and on the coaching staff, he replied, "The ability to continue the tradition - keep it going. Keep that torch and keep it going. Because, since we've been here, we've never had a losing season. And, in free agency, we've had the best record of any team in free agency - and I hope we can keep that going."
And are those he leaves behind able to "carry the torch...to walk on their own?"
"Without question," Wolf asserted. "This isn't all me. I'm getting all the credit for it (but) there are a lot more people up there (in the draft room) that deserve a lot more than they've gotten. And now they'll have that opportunity.
"But I don't know who's going to be put in charge. Only Mike Sherman knows that. And I assume that announcement will come soon after I leave."
And what is the best advice he has to offer to his successor?
"I would think, 'Don't get anxious,' " Wolf rejoined. "That's an easy thing for me to say, but it's also a hard thing to do.
"You become very anxious at one of these and you can't let the draft dictate to you...you have to dictate to the draft."
THE HISTORY OF NUMBER 10: The Packers only have possessed the tenth selection in the first round of the draft once previously. That was in 1965, when they drafted wide receiver Larry Elkins of Baylor with that selection. Elkins, who never played for Green Bay, actually was the Packers' second pick in the first round - behind running back Donny Anderson of Texas Tech. Elkins, who opted to try his luck in the then-American Football League with the Houston Oilers, subsequently retired after playing in 18 games over the 1966 and 1967 seasons.
DRAFT SITE: GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman will be available to the media following the Packers' first round selection and at the end of the day both Saturday and Sunday. Executive Vice President Ron Wolf will be available for a wrap-up review following Saturday's final round and also following the completion of the draft Sunday. Offensive Coordinator Tom Rossley, Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell and the other assistant coaches - along with Vice President of Personnel Ken Herock - also will be available as draft developments warrant and/or permit.
The Packers will have eight selections - including three in the third round, and two in the sixth - along with single choices in the first, second and seventh rounds. They will be without picks in the fourth and fifth rounds, with those selections having been dealt to Denver and Philadelphia for linebacker Nate Wayne and CB/KR Allen Rossum, respectively.
Overall, there will be 246 selections, including 31 compensatory choices that have been awarded to 16 clubs which suffered a net loss of a certainly quality free agents last year. The first three rounds on Saturday are expected to conclude by 9 p.m., CDT, on Saturday, and the final four rounds by 4 p.m., Sunday.
Under the Packers' customary draft day procedures, selections again will be transmitted from the team's "war room" in the administration building to NFL draft central in New York. Al Treml, the team's veteran video director, will represent the Packers at draft headquarters - The Theater at Madison Square Garden - and relay each choice to Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (or a league representative) at the podium for formal announcement.
2001 Green Bay Packers Draft Selections (as of 4/20/01)
| ROUND | OVERALL | NOTES |
| 1 | 10 | from Seattle in M.Hasselbeck trade |
| 1 | 17 | to Seattle in M.Hasselbeck trade |
| 2 | 41 | from San Francisco in 4/20/01 trade |
| 2 | 47 | to San Francisco in 4/20/01 trade |
| 3 | 71 | from San Francisco in 4/20/01 trade |
| 3 | 72 | from Seattle in M.Hasselbeck trade |
| 3 | 80 | to San Francisco in 4/20/01 trade |
| 3 | 82 | to San Francisco in 4/20/01 trade (from New Orleans in A.Brooks, L.Hall, K.D.Williams trade) |
| 4 | 105 | from San Francisco in 4/20/01 trade |
| 4 | 113 | to Denver in N.Wayne trade |
| 5 | 147 | to Philadelphia in A.Rossum trade |
| 6 | 179 | to San Francisco in 4/20/01 trade |
| 6 | 198 | Green Bay (Compensatory Selection) |
| 7 | 219 | to Denver in D.Bowens trade |
| 7 | 222 | to San Francisco in 4/20/01 trade (from St. Louis in M.Morton trade during 1999 season) |
* Packers' Current Picks in Bold (6 Total)
ROUNDS: Seven rounds - Rounds 1 through 3, Saturday, April 21, and Rounds 4 through 7 on Sunday.
TIME LIMITS: Round 1, 15 minutes each team; Round 2, 10 minutes each team, and Rounds 3 through 7, five minutes each team. (246 overall selections)
TIME OF ROUNDS (2000): (1) 5:30; (2) 2:52; (3) 1:33; (4) 1:39; (5) 1:34; (6) 1:34; (79) 1:53.
TOTAL TIME: 16 hours, 25 minutes (254 overall selections)
INTERNET: The Packers' website, www.packers.com will carry up-to-date reports on the team's draft selections, including "live" interviews with Executive Vice President Ron Wolf, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman and others - and conference calls with drafted players - throughout the draft.
TELEVISION: ESPN, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., CDT, on Saturday, ESPN2 from 6 p.m. to conclusion. ESPN, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, CDT, on Sunday, with ESPN2 carrying the remainder of the draft from 12 noon to its conclusion.
ESPN also will carry, from the Packers' administration building, interviews with Executive Vice President Ron Wolf and GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman, and others, during both days of the draft via video conference.
PICKS (by round): (1) 31; (2) 31; (3) 33; (4) 36; (5) 32; (6) 37; (7) 46.
AN 'INSIDE' LOOK: Packers fans, regardless of where they may be, will be able to watch, first-hand, what is transpiring in the team's "war room" throughout next weekend's draft by visiting the club's web site - www.packers.com. A camera mounted in the Packers draft room will be providing a continuously updated "snap shot" of the day's activities. In the process, fans will be able to see Executive Vice President Ron Wolf and GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman collaborating on their second draft together.